5 Other Reasons to Love Ohio

In large part, President Obama owes his reelection to the battleground state of Ohio, which was considered a major key to winning a second term in the White House and thus saw an overwhelming amount of attention during the campaign. Obama backers across the country are no doubt giving thanks to the Buckeye State this morning – and as if that weren't enough attention for Ohio, we’re offering up five more reasons to love the state that handed Obama four more years.

Ohio pioneered punk in the '70s

Northeast Ohio was one of the original hotbeds of punk rock in the ‘70s, when bands like Cleveland’s Dead Boys and Pere Ubu -- both spawned from the seminal Rocket From the Tombs -- and Akron’s New Wave punkers Devo helped usher in a gritty, Midwest-flavored twist on the genre that was rising in New York City at the same time. The Dead Boys even moved to NYC in 1977, where they become a major fixture at CBGB, thanks in no small part to their anthem ‘Sonic Reducer.’

David McNew, Getty Images

And it remained vital in the alt-rock '90s

In the ‘90s, the booming genre known as alternative rock saw star regional representation out of the north end of Ohio from Cleveland-bred industrial greats Nine Inch Nails. On the south side, there were Cincinnati’s Afghan Whigs, and out of Dayton came Bob-Pollard’s Guided By Voices; the Breeders, which featured the Deal sisters; and psych weirdo Brianiac.

Karl Walter, Getty Images

Not to mention the garage-rock '00s

The garage-rock revival of the ‘00s may have been based in NYC, but thanks to bands like the Black Keys (which recently relocated to Nashville but were originally from Akron) and the Raconteurs (which, in addition to featuring the White Stripes’ Jack White, also included Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler from the Cincinnati garage outfit the Greenhornes), Ohio was a major player.

Theo Wargo, Getty Images

And Cleveland still rocks today

A definitive role in the presidential election isn’t the only thing Ohio has to offer in 2012. The Cleveland-based Cloud Nothings formed back in 2009, but it was the release of this year’s Steve Albini-produced ‘Attack on Memory’ that really spread the gospel of frontman Dylan Baldi and his delightful indie pop. Songs like ‘No Future/No Past’ and ‘Wasted Days’ are sure to stick in your head well past inauguration day.

Jason Kempin, Getty Images

Plus, Ohio has sense of history (for better or worse)

Ohio, of course, is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located on the North Shore of Cleveland. Then again, despite the abundance of top-notch local talent spread out over several decades, pretty much none of the above-described bands -- except maybe industrial innovators Nine Inch Nails, and less likely Devo -- will actually get into the Rock Hall, unless they pay an admission fee like everybody else.

Sean Gardner, Getty Images

Did we forget anything?

Any other reasons we should love Ohio? Hit us up in the comments section below and let us know.